Refrigerator car divider



Feb. 7, 1933.

M. A. MacMxLL/N 1,896,198

RSFHIGEHATOR CA2? DIY?.

DER

Filed March 50,1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 7,1933. M, A, MacMlLLAN 1,896,198

REFRIGERATOR CAR DIVIDER Filed March 30, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor `/lllomey Patented Feb. 7, 1933 i IURDOCH A., IACIILLAI, l' CHICAGO, ILLINOIS knaramiaaa'roa can. nmmm.. e

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' This invention relates torthat class of inventions having to do with the construction of refrigerator and freight car artitioning means, and has morevspeciic re erence to a 5 novel-transverse divider provided for se arating' the interior of the `car into distinguishable compartments; e

The purpose of the invention is to provide a partitioning structure vcom rising a vpair of companion doors applica le tothe car without requiring structural alterations in the existing stock parts, whereby`to provide a simple, economical and efficient arrangement capable of fulfilling the requirements of an invention of this class in a highly satisfactory and practical manner.

It is a matter of common knowledge to those familiar with the transportation and refrigeration car industry that considerable expense is attached to the eflicient handling of commodities, particularly perishable foods. Ineiective refri eration in warm weather subjects perisha le foods to rapid deterioration while incold weather the lack of proper protection on'the interior of the car promotes spoila e when the foods become frostbitten or rozen.

My idea is to provide a sim le and effective double door partitioning evice located at a point near t e customar as to rmit the perishable ood to be isolated in the special compartment thus provided for sake of protection.

It is also well known that considerable time is consumed and required in loading the cars and to expedite loading and unloading it is customary for the attendant to leave `the side doors completel open. Obviously then in warm weather t is results in damage to the goods because of the lack of suiicient refrigeration, while in cold weather this practice promotes undue and premature damage to the goods by unnecessary exposure to the elements.

To give requisite refrigeration to the readily perishable goods, it has long been the practice of carriers to ice one end of the car erisliable commodiinto which the highly eavy loads of salt,

ties are placed, usn

' 50 and to use no salt an only a medium quanside door so tity of ice, or none at all, in the other end of the car where the less highly perishable fre' ht is loaded. Manifestly however it has en found in practical experience that the air in both ends of the car is so conditioned and loaded to practically equalize itself so that fresh meats and the like do not receive the requisite degree of refri eration and protection and the fresh vegeta les are likely to become frozen if by the same token in winter weather when one end of the car is iced to assist in an even temperature, freezing damage to certain commoditiesresults.

t is evidentwtlierefore that there is a dire need for thepovisioii of means to overcome these faulty conditions.' Hence it is the object of this invention to provide a air of -complemental doors mounted on dou le acting spring-closed hinges, permitting the doors to swing closed and remain closed.

Secondly, it is the object of the invention to provide a partitioning door arrangement of the aforesaid character wherein the doors may be attached to the existing doorposts for the usualV side doors of the car, making it unnecessary to damage the insulation walls on the interior of the car, thus simplifying the arrangement and insuring proper protection even when the'side doors are allowed to remain open all day long, as they frequently are underpresent loading practices.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following description and draw ings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical sectional view through a conventional refrigerator car showing thefpartitioning door assembly inl stalled.

Figure 2 is a view at right angles, the section being taken approximately on the plana of the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view with the upper ceiling portion of the car removed.

Figure 4 is a central horizontal sectional view through Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a horizontal detail section on the liiie 5 5 of Figure 1.

Fi ures 6 and 7 arey perspective views of certain details.

Referring now to the drawings by distin ishing detail reference characters it wil be observed that the numeral 8 desi nates a conventional refrigerator car including the customary roof 9, bottom 10, and side walls 11. On the interior of the car is the usual ceiling 12 and inner wall 13, these being of customary insulation material.

The usual horizontal spaced parallel top rails are denoted by the numerals 14 while the floor runners or rails are indicated at 15. Then too, as seen in Figure 4, the side car door openings are represented at 16, the doors at 17, said doors being mounted in cus-` tomary frame structures and each frame structure including a vertical post 18 which posts are used for supporting the supplementary partitioning doors 19.

Each door comprises a suitable marginal frame 2O having a panel of insulation material. The abutting members of''the door frames are provided with canvas buffers 22 and at this point I provide a suitable latch or fastener 23. Referring to Figure 5 it. will be seen that the numerals 24 designate double acting spring equipped hinges which are utilized for attaching the outer ends of the doors to the existing posts 18, and as before stated, this obviates the necessity of altering the car on the interior and makes it totally unneces-l sary t0 puncture or damage the insulation walls on the interiorof the car.

The double acting spring'hinge arrangement allows the doors to swing in either direction as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4. Moreover, it maintains the doors normally closed so that they automatically close as the attendant passes from the special storage compartment 25 into the unprotected storage compartment 26 and vice versa. By positioning the doors 19 at the point illustrated in Figure 4, the goods in t e compartment 25 are isolated from the compartment 26 and protected whether the side doors 17 are open or closed.

The numerals 27 designate oor cleats having notches 28 to fit over the floor rails 15 to provide sills for the doors and to effect the desired closure at this point. A similar header strip or cleat is denoted at 29 this having notches 30 to tit over the top rails 14 as seen in Figure 1 whereby to close the space between the upper edges of the doors and the ceiling of the car. Consequently when the partitioning doors are closed, an effective closure for the compartment 25 is insured.

I also Wish to emphasize the fact that the hinged ends of the doors bear an intimate contact with the interior insulation walls of the car. Taking into consideration the many disadvantages resulting from the objections pointed out in introductory portions of the description and comparing the ordito be understood that minor changes comingA within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

I claim:

A freight car having a body portion with side door openings, upright posts at one side `ofhnsaid openings, and side doors for said openings, and also having dividingmeans located in the body in transverse alignment with said upright posts and consisting essentially of horizontally swingable doors the outer vertical edges of which rest close to opposite sides of the body, double acting spring hinges interposed between said edges and the sides and enablinvr the doors to swing horizontally in opposite directions, and means on the confronting'vertical edges of the doors for preventing the passage of air therebetween when the doors are closed. Y

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

MURDOCH A; MACMILLAN. 

